Obituary: Spurgeon, L. C. “Jack”
Jack was born in 1924 in Wellsford, Kansas.
After graduating from Haviland High School in Haviland, Kansas, he thumbed his way across America in order to get to Portland, Oregon, to take a job with the S P & S Railroad.
While working on the railroad he happened on the town of Sprague, Washington, where he met and wooed his beloved wife of 66 years, Evelyn Bonk.
Jack and Evelyn married June 15, 1947, in Sprague.
They honeymooned in Coeur d’Alene at the Desert Hotel.
In 1956 Jack took a job with the Idaho Transportation Department and moved from Portland to Coeur d’Alene.
He worked for the ITD from 1956 until the early 1970’s.
While working for ITD, Jack managed Panhandle Hiway Federal Credit Union, which later became Sho-Pan-Hi Federal Credit Union, from the early 1960’s through the late 1970’s.
Jack was very active with the Kootenai County Democrats.
He was honored by the voters of Kootenai County when they elected him to serve as a state legislator in 1976 and 1978.
He also served on the board of the Credit Union League from 1971 to 1980, was a past member of the Coeur d’Alene Kiwanis, and the Coeur d’Alene Elks.
Jack spent the last sixty-five years in service to his state, county, and the people of North Idaho.
In the mid 1970’s Jack was appointed as a Chapter 13 Trustee, a position he held until his official retirement in 1999, as well as being a member of the National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees.
During his tenure with the credit union, and as trustee, Jack helped many people with practical financial advice.
He loved finances and enjoyed investing in the stock market.
Beside his devotion to family, and raising his four children, his favorite hobby was wine.
Jack enjoyed all aspects of the grape, and served many years as a member, and board member, of the North Idaho Enological Society.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, one sister, and his son Gary.
He is survived by his wife Evelyn, sons David and Brian Spurgeon, daughter and son-in-law Lisa and Jeff Davis, daughter-in-law Cindy Spurgeon, and grandchildren Mike Spurgeon, Jackson and Nicole Davis.
There will be a viewing beginning at 9:00 am, followed by a Funeral Service at 10:00 am Saturday October 26, 2013 at Yates Funeral Home: 744 N. 4th Street, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Following the funeral, and subsequent internment at Forest Cemetery, there will be a celebration of life at the Lake City Center: 1916 Lakewood Drive Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Museum of North Idaho.
Please visit Jack’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhome.com